Folding grate.



C. LOMBARDO.

FOLDING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 'S. 19H- Patented. Apr. 23,191

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

C- LOMBARDO.

FOLDING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILFD MAY'IS. 19H.

Patented Apr. 23,1918.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FOLDING CRATE.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 23, 1918..

Application filed May 15, 1917. Serial No. 168,772.

shipping crates and is directed more particularly to a crate which maybe quickly and conveniently collapsed for storage or transportation andas readily set up for use. An object of the present nvention resides inthe provision of a crate of the abovetype which is collapsible in novelmanner and in which means of novel construction and arrangement areembodied for securing in set up position the several sections whlchconstitute the crate.

With the above and other objects of similar nature in view, thelnvention consists in the construction, combination and ar rangement ofparts, set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended clalms.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sh pping crateconstructed in accordance with the invention and set up for use.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the crate as partially folded,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the crate completely folded,

Fig. 4 is an edge view of the crate in folded position,

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective new of one corner of the crateillustrating the improved fastening device, and

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view show ing the device by which theslde and end sections of the crate are strengthened and reinforced.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, there isshown a collapsible shipping crate consisting of a bottom section 10,end sections 11, side sections 12 and 13 respectively and a top section14.

The end. sections 11 of the crate are permanently connected with thebottom section 10 by means of butt hinges 15 of the ordimay type and areadapted when collapsing the crate to swing on said hinges and lie foldedagainst the bottom section as will be apparent from the drawing. Betweenthe side section 12 and the bottom section of the crate there isinterposed a spacing strip 16 that is connected to said sections byhinges 17 so that in collapsing the crate it will extend at right'anglesto the bottom section and thus oflset said side section therefrom. Thetop section 14 is also hinged as at 18 to the side section 12 in suchmanner that it may be folded backwardly thereagainst and subsequentlyfolded with the latter on its hinged connection with the spacing strip16, into position against the end sections 11,

such positioning of these sections being.

made possible by reason of the spacing strip as will be readilyunderstood.

The other side section 13 of the crate is connected to the bottomsection 10 through the medium of detachable hinges 19 whereby it may bereadily disengaged from the bottom section during the collapsingoperation and arranged in a manner that will subsequently be explained.

With the crate in set up position as shown most clearly in Fig. l, tosecure the several sections in their relative positions, there arecarried by adjacent edges of the side and end sections, plates 20, and21, the outer ends of which are provided with alining tubular extensions22.

The plates 20 are each furthermore provided with a fixed lateralprojection 23 with which is engaged a fastening device 24: the samebeing preferably formed from a single strand of relatively heavy wirethat is bent into substantially iii-shape as shown, with one of theresultant legs rebent to form an elongated loop 525 that is slidablyengaged with the projections 23 on the plate 9.0, while its other leg isinserted removably in said alining tubular extensions and thus rigidlyconnects the adjacent sections.

Angleirons 26 are carried by the end sections 11 to engage with plates26 secured to the side sections and thereby brace and strengthen thecrate when the same is set up for shipment, while a suitable fastener 27isalso provided on the top and side section 13 to secure the top inclosed position.

When the end sections 11, spacing strip 16, top 14 and side section 12have been folded as above described they are secured in their relativepositions by means of a tener 28 which is carried by the top and engagesin the tubular extension of one of the plates 21 carried by theadjacentend section. The side section 13 is then disengaged from the bottomsection and placed upon the other side section 12 in such man- 1 1.collapsible crate consisting of a bottom section, endsections hinged tothe bot 7 tom section and foldable therebeneath, a side section hingedto the bottom section, a top section hinged to said side section, saidtop section being foldable against said side section and with said sidesection being foldable against the end sections, a second side sectiondetachably connected with the bottom section, and means releasablyholding said side and end sections in set up position.

2. A collapsible crate consisting of a bottom section, end sectionshinged to the bottom section and foldable therebeneath, a side sectionhinged to the bottom section, a top section hinged to said side section,said top section being foldable against the side section and with saidside section being foldable against the end sections, a second sidesection detachably connected to the bottom section, and means rcleasablyholding said side and end sections in set up position, said second sidesection being removable from the bottom section for positioning againstthe other side section and adapted to be so cured thereto by certain ofsaid connecting means.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES LOMBARDO.

Witnesses:

HERMINA Knnnonn, Gno. H. KRUEGER.

' Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G.

